Social media appeal over suspect phone calls to elderly

They have issued a warning about a phone caller who is telephoning elderly residents and claiming to work for Ballymena Health Centre.

They say the male caller has used a number of different names and asked questions about health and medication.

Police are concerned that this may be an attempt to fraudulently collect personal banking details from vulnerable members of the community and are advising anyone who receives such a call not to give any personal details and to hang up.

Medical practices in the area are aware of these calls according to police who are urging social media users to pass on a warning to older members of the community who may not use the internet.

A posting on Ballymena PSNI’s Facebook page states: “The PSNI appreciates that some older members of the community do not use social media, so on this occasion we are asking the community of Ballymena who follow the PSNI on Facebook to pass this important piece of information on to older people who may be vulnerable.”